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moorSummary:
The Wild. Long ago, the power that ruled the earth and everything on it created order and meaning, cycles to preserve balance and harmony. The checks and balances put in place ensured that power would never be used beyond equivalent advantage. Over time, the Wild produced Sources, entities through which the Wild could be channelled in times of need. During a battle to defend their Kingdom, the leader of the Uchiha summoned the Wild. In doing so, another channelled and became bound by the Wild to balance his power. This is their story.
Content Warning: A/B/O
Part One - The Senju and the Uchiha
Part Two - The Battle [first battle] | Part Three - The Battle [continued]
Part Four - The Secret [first secret] | Part Five - The Secret [continued] | Part Six - The Secret [continued] | Part Seven - The Secret [continued]
Part Eight - The Underground | Part Nine - The Underground [continued] | Part Ten - The Underground [continued] | Part Eleven - The Underground [continued] | Part Twelve - The Underground [continued] | Part Thirteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Fourteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Fifteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Sixteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Seventeen - The Underground [continued] | Part Eighteen - The Underground [continued]
The Underground [continued]
To Ino’s—and Sakura’s—relief, Shisui’s enthusiasm for all things Secret Soldier did calm as they journeyed through the night. The group travelled well together and, as Ino predicted, made excellent time between each herbalist and supplier. Each morning Sakura woke with anticipation for the day, encouraging the other two to hurry. Her dealings with each vendor were genuine and honest, discussing trade, pricing, sourcing and distribution. As they headed toward the last name on their list, though, Sakura’s enthusiasm waned and she became quiet and withdrawn. Ino and Shisui pulled ahead of her on the trail they followed.
Shisui looked back at Sakura, his brows drawing together, before looking to Ino for guidance. He was learning.
“What are you thinking?” asked Ino, calling back to Sakura.
Shisui nodded, watching Sakura.
“Everything here seems fine,” said Sakura.
Shisui looked at Ino again.
“Is that a good thing?” asked Ino. She slowed her footsteps, waiting for Sakura to catch up.
“Normally, yes,” said Sakura.
She walked alongside Ino and Shisui, the forest providing them cover from the hot sun.
“Then what isn’t sitting right?”
Sakura frowned, biting her lip before she looked up at her companions.
“If everything’s fine with the suppliers,” said Shisui calmly. “It means the poison is being manufactured directly inside Konoha.”
Sakura nodded.
“You were hoping that it was a faulty supplier or someone external,” remarked Shisui.
Sakura nodded again and sighed.
“We still have one more to visit,” said Ino.
“Not that we’re hoping they’re the ones poisoning us… but also, even if they were, that would be bad for their business…” said Sakura, mulling things over in her head. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“Could it be their distribution chains? Could they be compromised on their way to Konoha?”
“Maybe, but we’ve been testing the goods coming into Konoha for some time, at the clinic,” said Sakura. “We haven’t found anything that’s been tampered with.”
The group walked on in silence.
Sakura had voiced what they had all been concerned about.
The poisoner wasn’t outside Konoha.
It was a traitor within.
***
When Sakura bid farewell to the last supplier, she walked dejectedly back to Ino and Shisui. The pair had been unobtrusively searching each farm and plantation while Sakura spoke to their sources directly. Outside of a few patches of illegal plants at several of them, nothing out of the ordinary had surfaced.
“Are you going to report them?” asked Shisui.
They had turned away from the farm and were on their way back to the main road. Ino had marked an X on their map a few kilometers away. The ‘vacation’ portion of their trip was all that remained.
“No,” said Sakura. “Those were very small growing operations, to be honest. Cutting off our business would do them more harm. That wasn’t our prerogative. We were searching for tampering and sabotage.”
Ino stretched. Their packs were considerably lighter now that they had spent the better part of their week’s rations.
“You know what would make us feel better?” said Ino to Sakura, ignoring Shisui.
A rueful grin tilted Sakura’s lips.
“Shopping,” said the women in unison.
Sakura snickered while Ino exhaled wondrously.
“Find a nice onsen for us when we get to town,” said Ino over her shoulder to Shisui.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Then you may do some souvenir shopping while Sakura and I have a girls night out.”
“Yes ma’am.”
There was a pause.
“Yes?” asked Ino, sensing Shisui’s question.
“Should I follow you?”
“At a discreet distance,” said Ino thoughtfully. “Just in case.”
“Yes ma’am.”
That settled, they continued on their way, Ino gleefully plotting what shops she and Sakura needed to visit and calling reminders back to Shisui as they went.
***
Ino’s planning paid off in spades as she and Sakura made their way through the different shopping districts of the Tea village. Sakura purchased a lovely pair of opal earrings for Naruto to give his girlfriend, a set of simple puzzle toys for Yu (and some adorable hooded sweaters with a variety of animal ears on their hoods, some with little tails on the back that Ino made her limit to only her 13 favourite), and a bottle of premium saké for Tsunade. Ino spoiled Sakura when they passed through the fashion district, choosing several beautiful dresses and outfits for her.
“Where will I ever wear these?”
“That’s not the point, Sakura. Now go try these on and show me how they look...”
“We’re not going to be able to fit all this in our packs.”
“That’s what our rental Uchiha is for.”
“He has a name, Ino.”
“Not-Sasuke is doing just fine, aren’t you?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“See?”
Sakura peeked over the pile of bags and boxes Shisui was carrying, checking on his mental state. Sakura was used to Ino’s bold, direct personality. Others… tended to be bowled over. Or run over, if they got in her way.
As Sakura expected, Shisui’s eyes were glassy as he met her gaze and Sakura’s shoulders sagged with sympathy.
Help Me, his dark gaze begged.
“Shisui, after this shop would you mind taking our things back to the onsen, please?” said Sakura, speaking in gentle tones. “There’s one more place that Ino and I would like to go… for girly things.”
His brows lifting, Shisui turned to Ino who blinked at him once for yes. Shisui turned back to Sakura with a grateful nod.
“Yes ma’am.”
TBC
